Caterwauling

Do not, under any circumstances, enter Wal-Mart this week. I stopped by last night for kitty litter and was in line for AN HOUR. I opted to wait for a cashier rather than doing the self-checkout thing, and it was a wise decision, because I got out a half hour before the guy next to me in line did. Even for those of us who are adept at scanning our own items, the machines go nuts and must be serviced at least twice per transaction.

Wanted to thank Ted and his lovely family for entertaining me all day yesterday and feeding me reams of fresh-from-the-oven homemade cookies and chicken-enchilada soup and barbecue. Mmm, mmm. It was wonderful spending time with such an incredible group of people when my own family is so far away!

I can’t believe it’s Christmas already. I just hope that, at the last minute, Santa Claus remembers to add a few of us to his list that he’d seemingly forgotten about. May the year 2005 arrive quickly and efficiently and bring us the joy we’ve struggled so hard to uncover this time around!

On iTunes: Juice Newton, “The Sweetest Thing”

Mental exhaustion is setting in. Need a minor hiatus from blogging. Visit the fine folks listed in the right-hand column under “Santa’s Helpers” for some weekend entertainment!

I couldn’t let a whole day go by without posting something. Today, it’s a meme perpetuated from the lovely Groove Bunny.

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Savannah
2. Samantha
3. “Dawnie” (only for Mom and my friend Dawn. Others will not live if this word dare escapes their lips!)

THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. dcwriterdawn
2. cavalier74
3. dawn10194

THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My spunk
2. I have green eyes
3. I am book smart and street smart — so many people are one or the other

THREE THINGS YOU HATE/DISLIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. I let my gym membership collect dust yet it drains my account every month
2. I procrastinate. Like, a lot. I may tell you more about it someday!
3. I fluctuate between never worrying or worrying too much. I guess it all equals out eventually!

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. Irish
2. British
3. Italian

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Money — the lack thereof
2. People with bad intentions
3. Not having all of my dreams come true

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. E-mail/Internet
2. My car
3. Cosmetics … and plenty of ‘em!

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Lavender Old Navy tee
2. Lavender, pink and light blue plaid pajama bottoms
3. Scandalous boyshorts

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS (or artists(at the moment)):
1. Bon Jovi
2. Gwen Stefani
3. Melissa Etheridge

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS AT PRESENT:
1. “You Can Sleep While I Drive” — Melissa Etheridge
2. “Fallen From Graceland” — Richie Sambora
3. “School Night” — Ani DiFranco

THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS
1. Feeling alive again
2. Reacquainting myself with the elliptical at Bally’s
3. Exposing my heart to anyone who might want it. I have kept it protected for as long as I can remember. I need a new sensation other than fear.

THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP (love is a given):
1. Space. Don’t smother me but don’t ignore me either.
2. Trust. Let me do my thing and you do your thing but let it all be on the up-and-up.
3. Dependability. If everybody’s game, then let’s all give it 100 percent. I don’t need to feel alone when I’m with someone.

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
1. I don’t mind country music and I am currently listening to an old Barbara Mandrell song (“Crackers”) — LOL
2. I expect to be telling my life story on “Oprah” and writing my autobiography and its accompanying screnplay (and soundtrack!) someday.
3. I don’t plan to get cable again.

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX (or same) THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. Eyes — sultry or sparkling, it doesn’t matter. I just know how to read people through their eyes.
2. Height. Please be taller than me. I have never felt safe in my life, and I want to be near somebody who might actually stand a chance at making me feel protected.
3. Hands. Not just “big” hands. LOL. Don’t be afraid to touch me. I won’t break, honest! And I’m sick of opening my own jars and fixing things that break … I’d adore it if someone could swoop in and be my hero on occasion!

THREE THINGS YOU JUST CAN’T DO WITHOUT:
1. Batteries
2. Coffee
3. My trendy BeBe glasses. ‘Cause I’m farsighted and can’t see crap without them!

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Blogging (duh!)
2. Making jewelry — just made a tiger’s eye necklace because of the stone’s power to get you through transitional states.
3. Chatting … you should see my phone bills! I really need to get my mom on the same cell phone network.

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Know the answers to all the questions that puzzle me.
2. I’ve always wanted to combine poetry and paintings — I’d love to pick up a brush and a pen and create something I’d be proud of.
3. I really want to read a book but I have other things I need to do (which I am avoiding by blogging. Heh).

THREE CAREERS YOU ARE CONSIDERING:
1. Life coach
2. Writing instructor
3. Novelist

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. Europe (Italy and France are high priorities)
2. New York City
3. Any random secluded beach getaway

THREE KID NAMES
1. Are
2. You
3. Kidding?!?!

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Fall in love. It has yet to happen but I don’t want to give up hope just yet!
2. Love awakening every single morning because I’m fulfilling my dreams and purpose in life.
3. Celebrate New Year’s in Times Square (or any special event, for that matter) … with someone special.

On iTunes: Gwen Stefani, “Bubble Pop Electric”

Dear Santa:

It’s been years since I’ve written, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need a little holiday magic to get me through the season. I need a lot of magic, actually. Even naughty girls need love, too!

Love, Dawn

On iTunes: Bon Jovi, “I Believe”

At a party Dave and I attended on Sunday, there was a very pregnant gal there in a gorgeous stretch blue velvet party dress and black suede high-heeled boots that came up to her knees. I was kidding around with her, telling her that this is the one time in her life that she can be caught in public in sneakers and comfy clothes, but there she was, looking fabulous. Her response? “I’ve been waiting all year to wear these boots, and damn it, I’m wearing them!”

She was awesome — she said her friends joke with her, asking where she gets her “slutty maternity clothes.” She says she isn’t bothering with maternity wear, in favor of wearing what she wants and taking advantage of the generous cleavage being with child has given her. I couldn’t help smiling when she spoke. If only we all could appreciate the situations we are in and use them to our advantage so beautifully.

It was a great lesson for me to not save my party clothes or, for that matter, my spirit, for special occasions. I’ve got a fabulous dress in the closet just waiting to be worn — think it would be odd if I donned it to go to the post office?

On iTunes: Pretenders, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”